Mrs. Geneva Ezzell Thomas, age 84 of Lebanon passed away Thursday, August 17, 2023, at American House in Nashville.
Born July 17, 1939, in Belmont, Mississippi, she is the daughter of the late Floyd Alto and Ouida Pearl Parish Ezzell.
She was very proud of her humble beginning, being the daughter of the sharecropper, of which her great work ethic was attributed. She loved gardening, canning vegetables, and raising Iris.
She was a very active member of Lebanon First United Methodist Church where she was very involved in the Stephen Ministry. She was also a vital part in setting up the archives at the Spain House.
She worked for the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation in the accounting department. Following retirement from the state, she went to work for the Wilson County Assessor of Property.
She and her late husband, Carlton both were very instrumental in the development of Fiddlers Grove at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center. They both worked endless hours acquiring and restoring buildings and artifacts.
Miss Geneva was the main reason for the success of the Century Farm Program in Wilson County. She spent countless hours helping families research and fill out their paperwork to receive this designation. She was a member of the Fiddlers Grove Foundation, and the Wilson County Fair Board.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of fifty nine years, Carlton Thomas on January 11, 2020; and three brothers, Preston, Kenneth, and Charles Ezzell.
She is survived by two children: Lisa (Ronnie) Waynick and Tony (Michelle) Thomas; four grandchildren: Geneva Grace (Tony) Woods, Jacob Wade Waynick, Jesse Lee Thomas, and Wesley Harrison Thomas; great-grandchildren: Annabelle Rose Woods, Rosalie Grace Woods and Gabriel Gage Woods; two sisters, Ouida Boulton and Lottie Thorn; along with several nieces and nephews.
Recently a flower was planted in Fiddlers Grove in honor of Miss Geneva. It should bloom during this year’s fair.
Funeral services for Mrs. Geneva Ezzell Thomas were at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, August 19, 2023, in the Bryant Chapel at Lebanon First United Methodist Church with Rev. Mike Potts and Rev. Ryan Bennett officiating. Visitation Friday 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home and Saturday 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. at the church.
Memorials may be made to Fiddlers Grove Foundation, P.O. Box 1203, Lebanon, TN 37088.
LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME of Lebanon (615) 444-2142 www.ligonbobo.com
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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